Porsche unveils 2015 Macan compact SUV in L.A.

Pricing will start at $54,300 for the S and $82,200 for the Turbo

The new Porsche Macan S in introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Chris Carlson, AP Photo

In an unusual twist, the Porsche Macan's hood is built to fit over and around its headlights to avoid a crease line on the bonnet.

Brian Harper, Driving

Plans call for 50,000 Macans to be produced a year, but that number might climb to 80,000 if demand is high enough

Handout, Porsche

The 2015 Porsche Macan Turbo.

Handout, Porsche

The Turbo Macan is powered by a new, Porsche-designed, 400-horsepower 3.6-litre twin-turbo V6.

Brian Harper, Driving

Porsche predicts the new 2015 Macan will be a high-volume seller like its Cayenne big brother.

Handout, Driving

Standard features for both the S and Turbo include active all-wheel drive and Porsche’s PDK double-clutch transmission.

Brian Harper, Driving

LOS ANGELES — The first and by far the most important of its world premieres in Los Angeles, Porsche rolled out its Macan compact sport-utility vehicle at a glitzy private function Tuesday night, just prior to its official debut at the L.A. Auto Show. Among the assembled were comedian and noted Porsche collector Jerry Seinfeld, television star (and well-known amateur race driver) Patrick Dempsey and tennis player and Porsche “brand ambassador” Maria Sharapova.

However, the real celebrity was the highly anticipated Macan, Porsche’s fifth model line and the company’s first foray into this high-volume, ultra-competitive SUV segment. Naturally, the famed automaker says the Macan is no ordinary sport-ute, Matthias Muller, president and CEO of Porsche AG proclaiming the compact to be “the sports car in its segment.” Beyond this corporate hyperbole, however, is a promise of a vehicle with excellent driving dynamics, a high level of comfort and reasonable fuel economy.

Porsche says the Macan will be the sports car of the segment.Handout /
Porsche

When it arrives in Canadian dealerships late next spring as a 2015 model, the Macan will be available in two versions — S and Turbo. Standard features for both include active all-wheel drive and Porsche’s PDK double-clutch transmission. The S is powered by a new, Porsche-designed, 340-horsepower 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6. The 3.6L twin-turbo V6 in the Turbo is based on the S engine, with a stroke that has been increased by 83 millimetres. It produces 400 hp, which will launch the SUV, says Porsche, to 100 km/h in as low as 4.8 seconds (4.6 with Sport Chrono).

Plans call for 50,000 Macans to be produced a year, and Porsche Canada president Alexander Pollich believes the Canadian market should prove very receptive to the new SUV. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it lures customers away from other segments,” he says.